The upper stage of the Indian rocket that successfully propelled the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into orbit underwent an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, as reported by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). This event occurred at approximately 2.42 p.m. on Wednesday, ultimately impacting the North Pacific Ocean.
ISRO confirmed that the cryogenic upper stage of the LVM3 rocket, identified by NORAD as 57321, was part of the vehicle that efficiently placed the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft into its designated orbit of 133 km x 35823 km with a 21.3o inclination on July 14, 2023. Notably, the projected impact area did not traverse Indian territory.
Remarkably, the re-entry occurred within 124 days of its initial launch, and the post-mission orbital lifespan of the LVM3 M4 Cryogenic upper Stage adheres fully to the "25-year rule" recommended by the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) objects.
Following the injection of Chandrayaan-3, the upper stage underwent a "passivation" process, eliminating all residual propellant and energy sources. This measure significantly mitigated the risks of accidental explosions, aligning with space debris mitigation guidelines mandated by both the United Nations and IADC, as outlined by ISRO.
ISRO's adherence to the internationally accepted guidelines for the passivation and post-mission disposal of the rocket body reaffirms India's commitment to safeguarding the long-term sustainability of activities in outer space.
(With Agency Inputs)
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